The vibrant festivities of Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, have commenced in Montreal, marking the beginning of a season filled with family togetherness, age-old traditions, and the joyful embrace of spring.
This significant holiday, following the lunisolar calendar, holds a special place in Chinese culture as the most important festival. It is cherished and celebrated not only in China but also in various other Asian countries like Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Lunar New Year is a time to pay homage to ancestors, gather with loved ones, and set the stage for prosperity in the year ahead. The celebrations can stretch up to 16 days, with the initial seven days being observed as official holidays.
In the lead-up to the new year, households engage in thorough cleaning to sweep away negativity and welcome good luck into their lives. Streets and homes are adorned with the color red, symbolizing joy and good fortune, while fireworks light up the sky to dispel any lingering evil spirits. Elders traditionally gift red envelopes filled with money to younger generations as a symbol of blessings and abundance.
The festivities begin with a heartfelt Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, where families gather around tables laden with symbolic dishes. A whole fish, symbolizing abundance, and dumplings, representing prosperity, are commonly enjoyed.
On the first day of the new year, families and friends visit each other, bearing gifts and enjoying Lunar New Year delicacies while catching up. These visits extend over several days, with temple visits usually taking place on the third day.
The Lunar New Year also marks the shift in zodiac signs, playing a crucial role in various communities following the lunisolar calendar. In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is designated as the year of the Horse, succeeding the year of the Snake in 2025.
With a 12-year cycle, the Chinese zodiac comprises 12 animals, each representing a specific year. Your zodiac animal is determined by your birth year, indicating that new Horses will be welcomed into the world this year.
It’s worth noting that Lunar New Year is celebrated diversely across different Asian regions, with variations in zodiac traditions.
The 15-day festivities culminate in the Lantern Festival, scheduled for March 3, 2026, a tradition dating back over 2,000 years. This festival symbolizes family unity and community spirit, encompassing ancient customs and, for some, serving as the “true” Chinese Valentine’s Day.
Activities during the Lantern Festival include moon gazing, the illumination of colorful lanterns, solving riddles, lively lion dances, and indulging in tangyuan – sweet rice balls representing affection. Children often carry lanterns through their neighborhoods at night, adding a joyful touch to the celebrations.
Coinciding with the Lunar New Year’s first day, China has introduced a new visa-free policy for Canadian citizens. Effective immediately, Canadians with ordinary passports can enter China for up to 30 days for tourism, business, or family visits without a visa until December 31, 2026.
For those planning to work, study, or stay longer than 30 days, obtaining the necessary visa is still mandatory. Entry requirements, including a passport validity of a minimum of six months from the arrival date and available visa pages, remain in place even with the visa-free arrangement.
The expanded visa-free program applies to over 75 countries, including Canada, the U.K., and most of Europe.
